31st Sunday Year A - Homily 2

Homily 2 – 2005 

In today’s reading, Matthew drew on Jesus’ criticism of the Pharisees f or not practising what they preached, for imposing moralistic burdens on others and doing nothing to lighten them, and for always wanting to be respected.

Of recent weeks the Church has been publicly criticised once again for harbouring paedophiles in its midst.  The revelations, made locally and overseas, though mostly involving crimes committed many years ago, tell a terrible story of devastated victims.  The Church’s desire to keep its reputation  led it in turn to cover-up.

The direct victims were, of course, those most deeply, sometimes irrevocably, wounded.  There were also their families and their friends, too, struggling to cope with the victims, their own sometimes conflicting loyalties, and their pain, anger and disillusionment.  Their problems are so often on-going.  And beyond that range the rest of us, parishioners and others: confused, hurting, angry.

I realise, of course, that paedophilia is only one expression of a much broader problem of sexual violence.  Apparently sexual abuse and violence occur in numerous homes, families and beyond.  It is not just Pharisees who fail to practise what they preach and who like to parade behind a facade of respectability.  It seems endemic to the human nature we share.  It all speaks of so much suffering, such deep wounds.  Who, and how far, can you trust?  Somewhere between no trust and total trust, the mature person has to draw a line – difficult but necessary.

The recent Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist spoke of the “precious jewel of celibacy” required of priests of the Latin Rite.  To my knowledge, paedophilia has no direct relationship to celibacy, but it does have a lot to do with the lack of adequate formation for a mature living of celibacy.  I have a suspicion that there is a fair amount of psychological denial operating.  Celibacy isn’t lived well inevitably.  And when we deny our shadow, look out for trouble!  Where celibacy is maturely lived, it may well be “a precious jewel” – just as faithful married love can also be “a precious jewel”.  But chastity is one thing, mature love is another.  Only when chastity, whether in celibacy or marriage, is an expression of genuine human maturity and of responsible love is it in any way Christian.

This brings us to the other reason why Jesus criticised some Pharisees.  We preach an idealistic ethic, especially in the field of sexuality.  We often express it in clear commands and prohibitions, as though originating from outside ourselves, even from God.  It is important that children be socialised, and for that they need clear boundaries, set usually by their parents.  But the same approach with adults can become a case of laying burdens on people’s shoulders and doing nothing to lift them.

Our customary attitude to sexuality has often been inadequate, certainly for celibate priests, but also for married couples.  Will-power motivated by pious devotion, or by fear, is not enough.  A more realistic and effective approach is to awaken people to their own deepest heart desires, and their practical consequences.  There in our deepest heart we find the desire to love responsibly.  And when we act from there – from that depth where the Spirit of God is at work within us – then we are free.

The faithful pursuit of love and chastity has its cost – and runs contrary to our powerful superficial desires – but it is the way we grow in integrity and in virtue.  Let us discover the beauty of what could be, and we willingly pay the cost.  This growth in both self-knowledge and free commitment is gradual.  Our emphasis needs to be on acquiring virtue, on living maturely from our deepest consciences – not in simply toeing the line.

The message of today’s Gospel is important.  Our own too human vulnerability reminds us of the constant effort needed to practise what we preach, and to do so with profound humility.  Open to the grace of God, unburdened and free, not caring whether our choice  for mature love makes us popular or not, we seek to live by the truth in love.